The Tongue

The Tongue

by

t. semakula


The tongue sits in one’s mouth like a neglected apparatus; its goal is to create. There is much to say about the power of the tongue. The tongue holds soo much prowess. Think about this tongue of ours, something so small, so loose, and soo hidden. The Bible summarizes the tongue as a spark, or a catalyst that if used correctly creates an abundant life. However if it is wielded in the wrong direction, it can compose total destruction.



The tongue is soo powerful that if we are apt to speak death over ourselves, without fail, we will find ourselves void of oxygen. So why is it that very few folk heed to this bit of wisdom that graces the pages of the greatest book ever published? We speak so we are. We speak ourselves into poverty, divorce, depression, loneliness, black holes, etc. We blame our situation on outside circumstances and forget that our tongue has spat out most of our destiny.



God was the first example, as to the power of speech. As the boom of his voice formed the word light, the earth became exposed to the glorious sun, the tint of the stars , and the huge glow of the moon. We thank God everyday for the light as there is not much that can be achieved once the sun goes down. Without the light we find that darkness creates the balance between start and stop, activity and rest.



There is power in simplicity. The tongue is a simple tool that sits inside the cavity of the mouth; it sits in between two layers of teeth and is held back by our lips. James who was Jesus’s blood brother states… Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. The tongue is the rudder that stirs one’s life, it would be mindful for us to know that the tongue carries more weight than ten thousand stones and has more power than one thousand volts of electricity.



So what’s up with all this tongue talk, aren’t you an entrepreneur? Yes I am, but as one who finds herself motivating others, I feel that entrepreneurs’, socialpreneurs, ministers and revolutionaries, need to learn how to tame the tongue. How can one achieve a vision that has not been spoken? Can we speak ourselves into a vision, a business, into success? Yes we can, however we need to start with the correct tools in order to bring things into fruition. You can compose a solid business plan, proposal, or sermon, but it will all mean zilch, if you have not spoken these things into existence.



Let your tongue be the compass that leads you to success. Let it guide you to those high places that sit just a little beyond the clouds. Speak well of yourself and others. Speak to the air and tell it your dreams. Speak success to your failures and motion to those things that have stalled. Speak life to death and speak joy to pain. Speak abundance to poverty and speak salvation to the damned. Speak fairness to injustice and speak love to hate. Go ahead, speak. What did you say?

Young, Talented, and Broke..But Not For Long

Young, Gifted, and Broke ... (But not for long, the broke part that is)


By T. Semakula


(text in italics are compliments of Ms. Ariel Gore)


Ariel Gore hits the mark in her book titled How To Become A Famous Writer Before You Are Dead …You don't have time for rejection letter home improvement projects. You can't afford to sit Zazen while your cherished manuscript languishes in some nameless agent's slush pile. You got maybe a hundred years on this planet. Less if you smoke. And you want to be a lit star, man!

To be paid to write is like icing on a good knockout lemon punch cake. That's what most writers aspire to. We aspire to have money to pay our bills, to travel, to walk around New York City and not work around New York City. It's one thing when you work at McDonalds in Times Square, it's another when you are just piddling around after finishing off your novel and you just happen to have a taste for a nice Oreo Mc Flurry from the McDonalds that sits inside Times Square.

You'll need a bulletproof ego and a juicy humble core…I often think about the famous writer Zora Neale Hurston and how she used patrons to get her through her many creative pursuits. These patrons had taken an interest in her as a writer and researcher. She was able to secure an apartment here and there, a trip to Haiti to do some research on culture, and she traveled quite extensively. However Zora, who is considered one of the most brilliant and talented writers of our time, died alone in a small green house in Florida. Her unfinished and rejected manuscripts were burned along with a pile of her personal belongings in her front yard. The only thing that was left was a charred patch of grass and a woman whose bones were resting in an unmarked grave. It was apparent that the interest, that her patrons had in her, had evaporated. It took a decade and a half later after her death, for Alice Walker to pen the article in Ms. titled "In Search of Zora Neale Hurston."

When it comes to being paid for your art, some writers come from the good old school of hip hop- by any means necessary. Us folk, who were weaned on Tupac and Biggie Big, clung to the immortal words of Chuck D-Hip hop is the CNN for black folk. We formed our own networks, created our own means of communication, laid out our own cable wire via hip hop and street corner shout outs. Self –publishing, self promotion, making something out of nothing is the mantra that more writers are grabbing hold to.

Zora took the traditional route of sending out her work. She waited for folk to respond. She waited for folk to pay her in advance. She waited for folk to acknowledge her and keep her from obscurity. Sure, writers still take advantage of sending out their work blind with the SASE, but they are also learning how to promote and market their own work.

Most people would like to receive and smell the flowers that folk have brought for them while they are still alive. I am sure that Zora would have appreciated the much deserved respect and revenue that her creative ideas and pursuits have admonished. To be young, gifted, and broke is a punch in the face to any writer. It doesn't hold any ground as we enter the age of the internet, with advanced printing and media tools which are available to the emerging writer via their own personal computers and laptops. No more waiting for someone else to make it happen, sometimes you have to make it happen yourself!

Do You Need Buttafly To Show You The Money?

Open publication - Free publishing - More non profits

Passion!

Excerpt from Buttafly's upcoming book titled How To Walk On Water (What It Takes To Be a Community Entreprenuer)....

Passion

You’ve heard that old lie, it takes money to make money. A lot of potential entrepreneurs, leaders and innovators have listened to this lie and have yet to compose a viable business, community organization, or venture that would have a definite impact on the community. They were told that they lacked the capital to get started. Keep in mind that they only focused on the monetary capital that may be needed to get things poppin. What about the emotional capital?

You need passion to start a business, a ministry, a nonprofit, a community organization, a movement, a cause. Wikipedia defines passion as an intense emotion, a compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something. So what is the thing that you are passionate about? What is the thing that wakes your lazy butt up in the morning and lulls you back to sleep? What is that one thing that you would do for free, regardless of the monetary rewards? What is the thing that you would work for, 23 hours a day, seven days a week? Can you think of anything? If you can, I am sure that within that thing, you will find your passion.

Passion is more powerful than money. As a matter of fact, passion produces money. That’s right. Passion produces money. Let’s say that a minister has a passion for youth ministry (however she has no money). So she devises a strategy to raise money for her youth ministry. She creates a free weekly blog (which is filled with her passionate mini-sermons and community resources) and she forwards her blog to everyone on her email list, Facebook Page, and Twitter Feed. She includes a donation button via PayPal and gives folk the opportunity to donate to her ministry via PayPal. Soon enough, donations start coming in via this blog. Wow, her passion produced the funds that were needed to get her youth ministry off the ground.


Buttafly's Services For Future Entreprenuers with PASSION....

Open publication - Free publishing - More workshops

Starlight..Starbright..In Search of Madonna

Starlight, Star bright (In Search of Madonna)

by T. Semakula

Looking for Madonna

Do you remember Madonna? She was the material girl that kicked it in thrift store clothes, lace hand gloves with the cut out fingers, mismatch earrings, and a fake mole. She was the one that sashayed across the stage in her lace drawers, worn out Doctor Martins, and a bullet bra. I remember Madonna, she had me hooked when she belted out Borderline and showed any respectful black girl how to wax poetic to an R&B cut. She was the New Yorker that was from upstate, an undercover Italian who was too cool for her hometown. She was soo fly that the diehard urban Nuyoricans claimed her as the queen of the city.

Looking in the Music

Can you find Madonna in the music?

Madonna has been traipsing around on a
new tour, selling out tickets, and performing in front of record crowds. There have been crumbs, to say the least, only memories of the Madge’s hey day. In order to bring her sound back to the forefront, she has partnered up with Pharrell of the Neptunes and has even returned to the street rebel R&B that put her on the map. I ain’t gonna lie, there has yet to be a hit that comes up to the standard of Holiday, and her anthem Papa Don’t Preach, would barely make a teen these days gasp with surprise.

So where is she?

It would be an insult to say that she has popped up inside the guises of Lady Gaga. Any diehard Madonna fan, would be quick to say that there is no comparison. Lady Gaga, the new Madonna? Yeah right. Madonna News states that Madonna has sued her number one competitor, Lady Gaga, for plagiarism for the song ‘Alexander’ similar to her hit’ Like a Prayer’. Lady Gaga says her intention was from the outset, to pay tribute to Madonna. Lady Gaga has been prancing around in all these ultra rebel costumes that are truly one of a kind creations. Madonna started out in dollar store scraps and made the look the desired outfit for most teenage girls during the mid –eighties. Plus, what is up with all that blood spilling out all over Gaga’s clothes during her performances, yuck!

I think I found her

Of course, Madonna has made her appearance as the somewhat laidback twice divorced mother of two. She has settled in to being an icon who has influenced many new performers who are willing to slap the word rebel on their foreheads. Sometimes I think I catch of glimpse of Madonna disguised as the confused artsy types who refused to give up their outdated army boots, crop tops, and leather spiked hand bracelets. These types consider the thrift store a new form of Macys and are committed to shoving up against the status quo. All things that Madonna stood for (freedom, expression, opportunity) seem to be available to those who are willing to seek it out. So I guess now, some of us are living Madonna. We don’t need to find her, she has found us. She is inside our hearts. She is living inside our dreams. She is there, the working class chica from upstate who made her dreams come true, once she hit the big city. She will never be lost. Never.

MADONNA Here

by MTK 6/11/2010

Came on the scene
“Like a Virgin”
For the very 1st time
Lighting up the stage

And her Fans
And the World (2X)

Was in Awe. . .

Then she became the –
“Material Girl”
Dancing to the Beat
We all fell for Her - -
Oh, So Sweetly. . .

“And the Beat goes On”. . .

As the years passes
As she grew - - Caring
For all the Children in this
World of Chaos & Confusion

Made a Home – Taking
Care of those in Need
Raising her Children with,
Joy and Loving Care. . .

Madonna, Madonna, Madonna

We Love, We Respect you always
For your spirit lighted the Path of Love
For All to Feel – To Know – To See
Nurturing the Children of this Earth. . .

Thank you

Welcome To Brooklyn!

Welcome To Brooklyn !

by t. semakula

I love Brooklyn, it’s fat with culture ….from the dread headed Rastas, to the Ricans and Afriques that be poppin off in East New York. Daily, Brooklyn is housing former Manhattan refugees who got tired of the sky high rent and the turned up snozzles of the super rich. These new expatriates are happy to find a new residence in a borough whose motto states… in unity there is strength . I cannot hide my love for Brooklyn. I remember when I slushed from the Bronx to Brooklyn on the train. I took the four to the two, and was happy to shoot out of the subway to get to the library that sat across from Prospect Park.

Brookly is 2.5 million strong. It has birthed the likes of Jay Z, Spike Lee, Mos Def, and the one and only Biggie Big. It’s known for being a city that gives a new meaning to the word ethnic. When you arrive in Brooklyn, you step into a stew of folk that represent different countries around the globe.The International African Arts Festival is held annually in Brooklyn as well as The West Indian Day Parade Carnival and a host of other ethnic festivals, and parties.

Brooklyn has been able to pull off the ultimate heist, it stole the spotlight from Manhattan. Where Manhattan failed ,with its sky scraper rent and infamous lack of livable quarters, Brooklyn became the perfect compromise. Low rent, spacious housing, a good mixture of professionals and the working class, a fifteen minute subway ride into the city, and a fifteen minute subway ride right back out.

Brooklyn has not voted for a Republican in a national presidential election in the last 50 years… with its liberal values and ability to attract artists, freaks, families, and intellectuals. Brooklyn has been able to match, or in some cases, outdo Manhattan when it comes to cultural activities and resources.

But in the end…I heart Brooklyn. When I pass under the Soldier’s and Sailor’s Arch at Grand Army Plaza, or cop a beef pattie and some coco bread, I can’t help but think that I am home. Maybe it’s because I am a writer, an artist, a dreamer…and we are the folk that gravitate toward Brooklyn. We are comfortable, knowing that Manhattan is just around the corner, its borders pushing up against the bridge that took fourteen years to stretch over the East River.

Article Sources

Brooklyn.Wikipedia. (2010) 21 January 2010.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn#Government_and_politics

What's goin on in BROOKLYN?

Uncle Luis's Brain Damage Open Mic...is poppin Off in Brooklyn!........

Who's The Cultural King Of BROOKLYN?

Learn More About Artist Danny Simmons on Global Grind

A poem by a poet that lives in Brooklyn

Metrocard

by Luis Bernard

Metrocard is a passport.

A seat between a thug Hare Krishna and a Muslim eating an egg roll.

Dark-skinned people sit in the front.

Window view partially blocked by a fruity Sunday hat.

Annoying symphony of needless cell phone conversations.

Fallen forgotten patriots extend dirty hands to beg for change.

Young lovers make plans on park benches inspired by the sunshine.

Luxury cars parked in front of the projects.

Pigeons take aim. Heh-heh-heeee.

Children begin grown portion of life by committing suicide with cigarettes.

Secret society of adults smoke addictively, huddled in alcoves on break time.

Private men bargain with public prostitutes.

Stilettos are from 9 to 5 now.

Rite-aid’s everywhere.

But babies are still pushing strollers.

Liquors stores on every corner until the streets only have 2 digits and the bodegas are extinct.

Rejected def poets stand on corners with signs that read, “Repent”.

In just six weeks life can include becoming a Paralegal,Getting a G.E.D.,Speak EspanolHabla English,And have great-looking Dr Zizmor skin.

Young boys replace penises with handguns.

The homeless get younger.

The return of the space cowboy.

Direct T.V. forest’s litter low income housing rooftops

Minstrels still beat buckets, beat box and break dance on cardboard without blackface.

People rushing to get home to sit down.

Big Ballers Shot callers with escalades carefully counting out single dollar bills for a order of wings and fries.

Ghetto kids get rich and buy symbols of status quo from those who stole their ancestors in order to show successful they are.

Suburban kids try to show how hip they are by trying to look poor.

Hollywood elite stroll down 125th with the lastest must have accessory…African orphans

Monochrome niggers who eat barbaque chicken with a knife & fork.

Abused women who do not leave because they still believe that when the sky is on fire that he can put it out with the sun.

Thugged out gangsters who be lamping & flexing rolex’s, but is of no value because it does not let them not it is time to put down their guns and pick up their babies.

Funny, always heard the roller coaster was the worlds greatest thrill.

Bored to Death’ Brooklyn Is the New Noir

Is Brooklyn the new noir...Click here to read more about it

Buttafly CAN help you write your own story about BROOKLYN...or about...Wherever it is that you live!

Are You the Next Bestselling Author? Let Buttafly help you develop that book that you have always wanted to write. Click here...to see how we can make it happen...

Buttafly Comes To The Light...

Comes to the light

By T. Semakula

i

penda…

ii

Will you comes to the light

kneel down …. on yo knees

Sali fo a poet who…. has no moon?

iii

teseka..only in expectation

iv

drift..only in haste

Buttafly prays for Faith, Hope, and Charity

Faith
The center
We revolve around
If we...believe




Hope
That ridiculous
Notion
That it...might happen




Charity
What we
Give to others
When we...are empty


by T. Semakula









One of Buttafly's Favorite Poets/Jessica Care Moore


Read Her Bio as well as a pretty darn good poem by her
http://aalbc.com/authors/jessica.htm




The Alphabet Versus The Ghetto by Jessica Care Moore/ A good book for anyone interested in arts/hip hop education..a must read

Listen to Jessica spit some real poetry on her myspace!
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=313278101








Buttafly Communications and MTK Entertainment
presents
Sister of Da Soul Open Mic Series

Poet/Activist- Steve Bloom

LouisvilleGospel.Com is now accepting sponsors for the Gospel Slam, a Spoken Word Gospel event that was created as an alternative to Halloween. For more information please contact Tarsha Semakula, Senior Vice President of Marketing at 502-526-5780 or email at buttafly100@yahoo.com